Switch



i Patented Apr. 413, 19.26. l

Unirse sra'ras ANGUS R. GROSS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SWITCH.

Application led November 9, 1923. Serial No. 673,740.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANGUs R. Gnoss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bal- 1timore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and luseful Improvements in Switches; and I hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

The invention is an improvement in electric switches, and one object of the invention is to provide a novel and durable electric switch, of simple construction, and adapted for various uses, Such as for use in the electrical circuit of automobile stop-signals and the like wherein the switch casing is attached to the body of the automobile, and the bending member of the switch is connected to the clutch or brake rods thereof whereby when the rods are actuated the movable member will be actuated to bridge the contacts to complete the-electrical circuit through the switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and durable electric switch, having but one bending part said part consisting of a flexible and extensible member adapted to receive all the strain of operating` the switch thus making the switch extremely durable, and of greater simplicity than any switch heretofore known.

A further object of the invention is to 'provide a novel normally open switch having but one bending part, said part comprising a flexible and .extensible spring adapted to bridge the gap between contacts within the switch casing when the member is flexed, or flexed and extended in proper direction but without regard to the amount of movement of the switch operating means.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one practicable embodiment thereof to enable others to adopt and use the same, and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novelcombinations of parts, for which protection isv desired.

In the drawings: l Fig. l is a side elevation of the switch. Figl 2 is a longitudinal section-through the l switc Fig. 3 is a section o'n the line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44, Fig. 2. As s hown in the drawings, my novel switch comprises a casing 1, in which are mounted two contactsV 2 on opposite sides Aof the cas- 6o ing respectively, and a spring member 3 extending Within the casing on the longitudinal axis thereof, the inner end of said spring being attached tofthe casing, so that when the spring is flexed and extended as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 the spring will bridge the gap between the contacts2, to complllete the electrical. circuit through the switc Casing 1, preferably comprises two substantially U-shaped sheet-metal members la and 1b, adapted to be fitted together as shown in the drawings to form a substantially closed rectangular box adapted to house the contacts 2 and the inner end of the spring 3. 75

Preferably, one leg of the member la is widened, as at 1, and the outer ends of the portion lc are provided with perfoi'ations ld adapted to receive the screws or bolts by which the casing may be attached to the `de- 30 sired object. The opposite leg 1* of the member ltl is. preferably made slightly less in width than the distance between .legs of the member 1* of the casing (as shown in Fig. 2) so that when the two members la and 35 1b are fitted together,as above described, the outer edges of the legs of the member lb will abut against the body of the member 1a of the switch to properly space the members apart. Members la and 1b are preferably 90 fastened together, when the parts 'of the switch have been properly assembled, by means of a rivet le passing through opposite perforations in said casing members la and 1b thereby preventing the members from sep- 95 arating. Suitable o enings as hereinafter set forth are provide in the casing l for the reception of the contacts 2 and forthe passage of the spring member 3 into the casing.

Each contact 2 (preferably formed of 100 brass or other conducting material) comprises a shank portionr2tL having a cylindrical head 2b on itsf'outer end, which head is preferably beveled as at 2c as shown in the drawings, and for the purpose hereinafter set forth and each contact 2 is likewise provided with a tapped axial bore 2d adapted to receive screw 2, which binds theconductor Awire W to the contact 2 in the usual manner.

Preferably the outer end` 2t of the bore 2d 1m of the Contact 2 is increased in diameter in order to allow said outer end to be riveted in piace'in the casing l.

Contacts 2 are passed through opposite openings, of relatively large diameter, in sides of the casing l, with the heads 2" thereof disposed on the interior of the casing, and the outer ends 2f or the shank members are bent or flanged outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3 to rivet the contacts 2 in place in the casing. ln order to properly insulate the contacts 2 from the casing l, suitable washers 2g, ot non-conducting material may be interposed between the heads 2b and ends 2 of the contacts 2 and the adjacent faces of the casing l when the casing l is made of conducting material. The lead wires lll are fastened Yto the contacts 2 by means et' screws 2e in the usual manner.

Spring member 3 preferably passes through a suitable opening in the end ot the casing 1, and is preferably disposed on the longitudinal axis of the casing, but to one side o the contacts 2 so as to normally be out of contact therewith. rl`he inner end of spring 3 is fastened, preferably by a rivet 3d to the top ot casing l, and the outer tree end of spring 3 is adapted to be attached to any desired switch operating means, such as the clutch or brake rod of an automobile, or the like. Around the spring 3, intermediate its ends and adjacent the contacts 2, is a ring 3b of conducting material, such as brass or the like, and ring 3b is preferably insulated from the spring 3 by any suitable insulating material 3 interposed between the ring 3b and the spring 3.

By reason of the beyeled heads of the contacts 2, as the spring 3 is in Jurtlfier eXed or extended the contact between the ring 3 and the contacts 2, is rendered more positive, thus insuring eiicient conduction between the contacts 2. Y

In 'assembling the switch the spring 3 may be riveted to the section lb and the contacts 2 may be riveted in place in the sections la and 1b before the sections la and 1b of the casing are fastened together by rivet l.

Then the switch casing is fastened in operative position to any suitable object, such as the floor boards of an automobile, and`Y the outer free end of the spring 3 is attached to the clutch or brake rod thereof, as the rod is actuated the spring 3 will be both liexed and extended and the conducting ring 3b on spring 3 will be brought into contact with both contacts 2, to complete the electrical circuit through the switch.

do not limit my invention to use with any particular operating means, for obviously the switch might be useable for various purposes where the operating means has an irregular amount ot' travel (such as the clutch or brake rod of an automobile) and where it is desired to have an electrical circuit completed regardless of and without affecting the amount of movementl of the operating means.v

My invention provides a novel switch having but one movable part, which movable part is capable ot being both flexedand extended to cause the member to bridge the gap between the contact members to complete the electric circuit through the switch.

l do not limit my invention to the exact forni shown in the drawing, for obviously the form of the switch and its parts could be greatly modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

l claim :I

1. A, switch oi the character specied comprising a normally closed casing having an opening in one face thereof; a pair of spaced contact heads insulated from the casing and extending into the easing from opposite walls thereof; and a helical spring extending through the opening into the casing adjacent the contact heads, and having its inner end secured 4within the casing;

`whereby when the spring is flexed the spring will bridge the Contact heads and close an electric circuit therethrough. 2. A switch of the character specified comprising a normally closed casing having an opening in one face thereof; a pair of :paced contact heads insulated from the casing and extending into the casing from opposite walls thereof; a helical spring extending through the opening into the casing adjacent the contact heads, and having its inner end secured within the casing; a conducting ring mounted on and insulated from said-spring adjacent the contact heads; and means for connecting the outer free cndroi1 sai-d spring to a movable member, whereby when said movable member is actuated the spring will be flexed and cause the ring to bridge the ioo contact heads and close an electric circuit'. 

